Everyone has experiences and thoughts that have the power to help others live better with T1D. Writing allows us to do just that while also offering an outlet to express ourselves and reinforce what we have learned. Thank you for inspiring, encouraging, and empowering the T1D community. We look forward to reading your submissions!

Tidepool is a powerful data collection and analysis tool. One that will change the way individuals with diabetes can integrate data and contribute that data to change the way we live with diabetes in the future. Exciting stuff.

I found out about Tidepool from Chris Snider at the JDRF TypeOneNation Research Summit-- he was representing Tidepool while I speaking on balancing sports and T1D management. Not only is Chris the Community Manager for Tidepool, but he also has T1D himself and hosts a podcast: Just Talking. I even got the opportunity to sit down with Chris and talk about med school, The Marathon We Live, running the Boston Marathon, and cheering for the Washington Capitals.

Erik and I only did one true training ride before cycling across the country on Adventure Cycling’s TransAmerica Trail. Around this time a year ago, we hopped on the Metro-North with a few friends from our type 1 diabetes Meetup group and headed to Peekskill, New York...

...Both of our blood sugars kept dropping and it seemed no amount of granola bars and gummy bears would keep our numbers stable.

There was no way of testing blood sugar at home, so we tested my urine instead. A special procedure involving a test tube with a solution containing drops of my urine was boiled on our stove. The solution changed color, and that gave some indication of how much sugar was in my urine. Each morning my urine was tested, and there was an injection of the animal insulin...

...In the mid 1980s I bought my first glucose meter. It had been 40 years before I was able to finally test my own blood sugar. I saw very high blood sugar almost every time I tested with the meter. Numbers in the 200s and low 300s were frequently seen, and there was no fast-acting insulin to correct those highs.

A1c tests were first available in 1976, and my doctor had my first A1c test done in 1980. It think it was a 12%. In 1988, I found a magazine article about carbohydrates, and I started reading labels on products. I began limiting the number of carbs I ate, and my meter started showing lower blood sugars. My A1c's improved. In the mid 1990s I started basal and bolus insulins. By the end of that decade my A1c's were in the high 5's and low 6's...

Mar 25, 2018

1. Find your voice and write your article. There is no word requirement. Some topic ideas include (but are certainly not limited to):

Balancing T1D with your favorite sports or hobbies, "daily steps" (i.e. the small changes we make to improve our care), healthy living with T1D, recipes and carb counts, perspective pieces, observations about living with T1D, upcoming events (i.e. celebrating World Diabetes Day) or events you have attended (i.e. JDRF One Walk), poems, art, songs...anything creative!

2. Choose 1-2 pictures that complement your article.

3. Provide a short bio that includes your: name, age, hometown, age at diagnosis, accomplishments, and maybe a fun fact or two. You may also provide a photo of yourself with links to any social media sites (we want people to know what you're about!).

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor (yet). Neither are most people writing the articles featured on the blog. Articles are meant to promote healthy living with T1D and share what has been helpful in one's personal care. Before making changes to your T1D care, it is always best to consult a doctor or certified diabetes educator.